Category: K12

HPM’s Jesse Montgomery Helps Fight School Absenteeism in a Dallas Community through Volunteer Laundromat Project

Posted on September 20, 2019

According to the Department of Education, one out of every six students miss three or more weeks during a school year. Students with chronic absenteeism are likely to not be able to read at their grade level, drop out of school, and be linked to difficult outcomes in adult life. Across the United States, there have been many approaches to help encourage and support these children.

For Jesse Montgomery, HPM Preconstruction Manager, the completion of a two-year volunteer project on a community laundromat in Dallas, Texas has much more impact than what one may think.

Jesse is the 2018 Foundation Project Chair of The Real Estate Council (TREC), an organization which has contributed more than $12.5 million in grant funds and assisted more than 150 nonprofit organizations in its community projects.

He currently has been working alongside TREC to lead an influential construction project that aims to bring change to a neighborhood in South Dallas through the reconstruction of a local laundromat.

As the Foundation Project Chair, Jesse had to sort through many project options to select which organization would be the recipient of the TREC’s funds, time and expertise. What really made the laundromat stand out as the volunteer project to pursue was more than the practical details, but the needs of the community.

“I was made aware that the residents of this area didn’t have access to washers or dryers in their homes or public laundromat facilities due to low-income. Consequently, children in this area were frequently missing school because they didn’t have clean clothes and didn’t want to go. Taking on this project would mean that we were helping create a business that could really help meet dire needs in this community.”
Jesse Montgomery

The Cornerstone Baptist Church had an even greater plan for the building. With the opening of a laundromat, not only could people in the community do their laundry, but the church saw the potential to allow members of the community to work there. The church also had a vision of taking the remainder of the building to add other businesses, such as a convenience store, to employ people and create more opportunities within the community.

While Jesse worked on this project through the organization TREC, HPM also played an important role in helping Jesse act as a project manager for this volunteer project.

“I’m so grateful to have been working for HPM during this volunteer project, because it helped me simply by being able to be around so many successful project managers that I could bounce ideas off of and ask how to approach different tasks.”
Jesse Montgomery

The laundromat project was a first for both Jesse and TREC. The volunteer projects usually stay at the $60,000 budget and have a quick turn-around for completion. However, this laundromat project took two full years of volunteering and over $500,000 was raised for the renovations.

Additionally, Jesse and TREC held a volunteer workday and is soon to host their first grand opening for an actual business.

As Jesse looks behind at the successes of this project and ahead at what’s next, it’s clear to see the values that he has when it comes to both his work ethic and his care for his community.

“Really, I love helping people,” Jesse said. “At HPM, being in preconstruction allows me to help clients make the right decisions for their projects. And with this TREC volunteer work, I’m able to put a face to what I’m contributing to. I’ve had a great experience and I’m eager to see what’s next for me.”

The grand opening for the laundromat is September 21, 2019. For more information about TREC, visit their website at recouncil.com.

HPM Valuing Clients through Program Development Services

Posted on August 26, 2019

Starting strong is how dreams turn into reality and how HPM teams lead clients into successful projects.

Our program development services are as established as our company. HPM was founded to build upon our roots of construction and grow more fully into helping clients by managing all the intricacies of planning, design, and construction. By putting our expertise to work, we were able to help owners complete their projects faster – and at a better price – than had they managed the entire process on their own.

We mean it when we say that we’re true advocates of our clients, and that our value of being family-oriented affects the way that we do business. One way that HPM puts our values into action is through program development services.

For a long time, program development has just been the way that our company runs — going above and beyond what’s expected for the sake of the client, taking the time to have and maintain open communication with leadership, and valuing the entire lifetime of a client’s project rather than just our role as program managers.

Our HPM program development team focuses on helping clients on the front end to cast vision and create effective plans before a construction project begins.

“The way that HPM provides program development services doesn’t really exist elsewhere in the industry. Our program development is intentionally customer-driven and customer-focused. We recognize that project management may not be our client’s area of expertise, and that results in clients with many questions and a lack of confidence and clarity. At HPM, we want to help a client move forward with their project in a way that is truly best for the client in the long-term, and program development helps us to do that.”
Greg Ellis, Vice President of Program Development

HPM’s program development services were created to help bring project definition. Often, a client may recognize need for outside assistance, but may not fully understand what direction to take. At HPM, program development services help refine client’s true needs and define what services best fit those needs. Program development is meant to fill in the gap for clients to truly get all that they want out of their project.

“Because we care about our clients, program development services are an effort to match our best skill sets to their actual needs,” said Ellis. “We want our clients to see that they aren’t purchasing unnecessary services so they can trust that we are giving them our highest levels of expertise.”

One success story that resulted from thorough program development is HPM’s work with Airbus to build the A320 Final Assembly Line in Mobile, Alabama in 2015. The aerospace giant deemed HPM “the local experts” because of our knowledge of the community, laws and regulations, and relationships cultivated with local contractors. HPM completed the A320 project four months early and nearly seven percent below budget.

Program development is woven into the fabric of our company and has existed within our values before the services were even defined. Our program development teams and services have strengthened relationships, created strategy and added value to each project they have helped manage. Built on this foundation, HPM has currently begun to expand program development services at a broader pace and scale to both existing and potential clients.

As new geographies and potential clients are pursued, the role of program development is the marrying of our skills and client needs. As we build relationships with our clients, we can together discuss what their project opportunities are and create a plan that adds the most value to their project.

For our existing clients, the main objective of program development is to provide our clients with the consistency of our leadership, quality, and care. As clients complete projects and their needs change, our goal is to have an integrated approach of pursuing potential opportunities into longer-standing programs and adding value to our clients beyond initial projects.

For example, one of our clients in the education sector simply reached out to HPM for a second opinion on their project. But by engaging in our program development services, we then began long-range planning. HPM provided support and assistance in how to plan for potential growth and expansion 10 years down the road. Because of this strategic planning, this client doesn’t have to worry about outgrown facilities or quick fixes but can operate in confidence while looking forward into the future of the school system.

HPM also recently hired Derek McSween, a respected industry veteran, as our first Senior Program Development Manager to coincide with the efforts of expanding program development services. McSween has more than 30 years of technical skills as well as 18 years of experience in program management. His industry experience provides a unique balance of knowledge of how project is to actually be built and how a program is to be run.

“I am honored and excited to join the incredibly talented team at HPM. There is a unique opportunity to cultivate new partnerships through my prior connections and experience in the industry, and also utilize my skills as a professional trainer to help grow the next generation of leaders within. I look forward to playing an active role at the company as we tackle new challenges and build upon an already strong foundation.”
Derek McSween, Senior Program Development Manager

HPM Hires Respected Industry Veteran to Coincide with Push into Major Program Management Markets

Posted on July 3, 2019

At HPM, we’re always looking for ways to pursue excellence within our industry. This pursuit includes not only providing the best program management services but also having the best people on our teams.

As we expand into new markets of program management, we need leaders who are known for their relational skills, determined work ethic, and integrity that will help pave the way for HPM to stand out within our industry.

Currently, HPM has added Derek McSween to our team as our first Senior Program Development Manager.

McSween’s appointment to the newly created position comes as HPM expands its footprint into major program management markets throughout the country. In his new role, McSween will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and direction for new and developing client projects and will serve as the main conduit between business development and the operational phases of an assignment.

With nearly 30 years of program and construction management experience, McSween has established proven processes for assembling highly skilled teams, mitigating risk and driving cost-control and efficiency for an array of signature projects around the globe totaling more than $3 billion.

“Derek is a dynamic leader with an impressive combination of industry experience and technical know-how that made him a natural fit for this position. We’re thrilled to have him on board,” said Mike Lanier, President of HPM. “His ability to pick up new skills, anticipate clients’ needs and connect them with our overall strategy and core values will generate meaningful results for HPM. We look forward to watching Derek apply his passion and expertise as he helps drive our company into the next phase of growth.”

“I am honored and excited to join the incredibly talented team at HPM,” said McSween. “There is a unique opportunity to cultivate new partnerships through my prior connections and experience in the industry, and also utilize my skills as a professional trainer to help grow the next generation of leaders within. I look forward to playing an active role at the company as we tackle new challenges and build upon an already strong foundation.”

McSween will be largely responsible for identifying new opportunities for deploying HPM’s portfolio of services, including facility master planning, space planning, facility assessments, and long-range capital planning, as well as a special emphasis in K-12 programming.

“Derek’s ability to manage high-impact teams and effectively deliver projects will be a valuable asset as we plan and prepare for the next decade ahead. His experience in the field and as an owner’s rep will be invaluable in developing new strategies that are necessary for HPM to cross the next threshold as a company.”
Greg Ellis, HPM Vice President of Program Development

Prior to joining HPM, McSween served as a Managing Director, Director of Diversity and Community Development and Senior Program Manager for Bovis Lendlease. While there, McSween forged new ties with the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System – North Carolina’s second-largest school district – where he provided oversight for the design and implementation for a K-12 bond program. McSween is largely credited for helping to grow the school system’s bond program from $130 million to its present-day total that exceeds $2 billion.

Since 2015, McSween has served as president of Port Saint Lucie Speakers Toastmaster Club, an organization dedicated to improving communication and leadership skills. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Rochester, held an NC General Contractors License and was an OSHA 500 certified trainer.

In addition to McSween’s responsibilities of identifying new opportunities for HPM services to expand into the market, he will also offer professional development opportunities for HPM’s team members, such as teaching public speaking and other leadership skills. McSween will also oversee the growth of the firm’s diversity programming. McSween was awarded the “Catalyst of Diversity” award by the Charlotte Business Journal for his exemplary work in the community and for helping small minority and female owner businesses compete and excel in their respective fields.

HPM is known for having family-like relationships, profitable stewardship and continual pursuit of improvement, and McSween is sure to add value to HPM’s leadership, impact and reputation within the program management industry.

“Derek is a force of positive change. We’re certain he will make a lasting impact on HPM and be an unwavering source of guidance for our firm.”
Mike Lanier, HPM President

HPM’s Beginnings: A History Built on Standing in the Gap (Part Two)

Posted on May 15, 2019

By Mike Lanier, President

Welcome back as we turn back time with our founding president reminding us in this two-part series about how HPM was founded and how it continues to grow. You can read Part One of this series posted earlier on our blog.https://hpmleadership.com/hpms-beginnings-a-history-built-on-standing-in-the-gap-part-two/

See Part One Here

In 2013, HPM took to the skies and provided the much-needed boots on the ground in the US for the global aerospace company, Airbus. Our expert staff members embedded themselves within Airbus and became the client’s eyes and ears during the design and construction of their first US manufacturing facility, which has led us to other clients in the aerospace and aviation industry.

Along the time that HPM began making its impression in several industries signaled the time for the company to be organized into its own entity, and HPM was officially structured into an LLC, branded itself apart from the construction company, and offered services separate from industry norms.

A few years ago, HPM represented the City of Birmingham by managing the design and construction of a new minor league baseball stadium right in the middle of downtown which sparked a revitalization of the area. Now, we have lead the building of several new major and minor league baseball stadiums across the Southeast as well as numerous collegiate sports venues across the US.

As a part of our growth strategy, HPM acquired a construction audit and contracting firm which serves an impressive list of clients including Google, Caesar’s Entertainment, Southwest Airlines, Facebook and Landry’s. The team criss-crosses the country involving themselves in clients’ contract negotiations; conducting interim and final audits to determine reimbursable costs, fees, savings and savings allocations; reviewing pay applications; calculating scheduled damages; and managing claims analysis and defense. We like to say that our audit and contract services provide clients with confidence knowing you paid the right price on your construction spend.

Today, HPMers serve global clients across the US from offices and project sites dotted throughout the country. Our clients continue to work with us on new projects because we have created deep, long-lasting relationships, and we continue to attract innovative and passionate talent because our work and our teams are meaningful, interesting and fun!

HPM was founded by leaders for leaders who lead at every level. We strive to be the perfect partner in every way so that our clients’ organizations achieve success.

My talented colleagues come from all walks of life and expertise – engineers, builders, estimators and designers work alongside accountants, business managers, communications professionals and administrative experts. Every role is important in HPM’s success and our clients’ success.

I believe HPM employees are relationship-driven, problem solvers, and good stewards. We strive to have purpose in our lives and do the right things for our clients and our community. My colleagues take the time to truly get to know our clients and their businesses to provide that ultimate form of servant leadership – the trusted advisor.

HPM’s Beginnings: A History Built on Standing in the Gap (Part One)

Posted on May 14, 2019

By Mike Lanier, President

Join us on this look back in time as our founding president reminds us in this two-part series about how HPM was founded and how it continues to grow.

HPM is in the business of leading. Sometimes, that looks like shepherding more than it does signaling a full-scale charge from the front.

While others in our industry focus on getting plans on paper or aim at the best ways to compile bricks, concrete, and steel, we focus on what’s most important to our clients at any given moment. HPM serves as a trusted advisor who stands in as the owner’s advocate in a capital building program.

And that can look like a lot of different ways to lead and serve.

A Little History

Our unique story of this servant-leadership style began in 1940 when Friend Reed (F.R.) Hoar founded the F.R. Hoar Construction Company in Birmingham, Alabama. Over the decades, the company has grown across the US with new projects, new clients, and new colleagues.

I began my career with Hoar Construction in the mid-1990s doing pre-construction work in the retail industry, and very quickly, I noticed many of our clients needed help beyond that of traditional contractors. I happily provided them the guidance they needed simply because it was the right thing to do.

Rob Burton, CEO of Hoar Holdings (which owns HPM and Hoar Construction), served as the Executive Vice President of Hoar Construction at the time I joined the company. He and I recognized the market needed someone that could help clients reach success by managing all the intricacies of their construction projects – from planning, design, and construction through to owner occupancy.

After a serendipitous lunch with his daughter at her school where a construction project was in disarray, putting students at risk, Rob met with the District Superintendent and offered our services. This led us to pre-construction work for school districts and municipalities who struggled to proceed with projects because they constantly seemed to stay overbudget, behind schedule, and/or beyond their capabilities.

In 1997, Hoar Program Management (HPM) was founded as a division of Hoar Construction to serve as advocates for our clients. During this time, we guided Hoover City School District during all phases of their construction projects which put us on the map in Alabama for K12 and which has now expanded to include school districts throughout the country.

HPM team members now shepherd school superintendents and school boards through the planning, funding and site selection phases of capital bond programs through design and into construction and move-in.

In 2003, we graduated into the corporate world with our partnership with Regions Bank. Regions utilized our program management services to help stay on budget and on schedule while they rolled out new bank branches across their multi-state footprint. More than 15 years later, we still partner with Regions Bank and have expanded our services into interiors planning and move management.

In 2004, HPM made the leap into higher education when a large university in our home state hired us to provide program management support for six different simultaneous construction projects on campus. And, we’re still there today due to our deep relationships with the staff and leadership team and a successful 15-year track record. Since 2004, we have completed more than $2 billion in capital building projects to facilitate the university’s rapid growth.

And that was just the beginning…

Part Two

Realizing the Value of Preconstruction Services

Posted on April 11, 2019

James Goree, Regional Director of Preconstruction

With a decade-long career at HPM, I have learned to appreciate that highly successful projects are the ones that do a good job of balancing budget, schedule, and quality, so it only makes sense that focusing on these areas as early in the project as possible would prove valuable. In fact, that is the idea behind preconstruction services – early analysis of the effects that project circumstances and components will have on schedule and cost. Oddly enough, many owners miss the mark by not employing these services on their projects.

Preconstruction typically includes the evaluation of construction methods, project pricing, value engineering, constructability reviews and bid and award process management. At HPM, we have seen this type of in-depth analysis pave the way to a clearer path for the project, in many cases resolving challenges before they arise and saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in schedule and cost overruns. Essentially, employing these services helps map out a plan early in design and way before shovels even go in the ground, putting teams in a better position to manage change and proactively communicate. We can all see the benefits in that rationale, right?

I am a firm believer that preconstruction sets a solid foundation for every project, no matter the size of the project or the market it represents. Time and time again, experts publish articles on the benefits of preconstruction. At HPM, we have seen first-hand the impact on our projects and have captured those stories in our portfolio of case studies. When teams collaborate early to identify meaningful solutions or take the time to build a project virtually through the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) owners reap the benefits. A program manager who understands the value of preconstruction and can walk-the-talk with their clients is in the best position to guide projects to success.

Simply put, our role in preconstruction is to offer a path that allows our clients to accomplish their goals while remaining on budget. As preconstruction experts, we are attuned to market conditions and are able to paint a holistic picture of the project. From budget to sequencing, we can guide decision-making from design to start of construction. Using our expertise, we should be expected to right size the bid packages for optimal performance, resulting in maximized ROI – all along the way providing regular updates and maintaining deadlines to keep the project on-track. And at the end of the day, that is our goal – to keep you informed and help you achieve success, whatever your definition may be.

Curious what preconstruction can do for you? Contact me at jgoree@hpmleadership.com.

About the author:

James Goree serves as Regional Director of Preconstruction at HPM. An experienced preconstruction and VDC Manager, his expertise has been employed on projects across the Southeast such as Pelham City Schools, Auburn University, and Wallace State Community College. Skilled in project estimation, value engineering BIM, CPM scheduling, and software implementation, he builds a project in his mind before building a budget on paper. Working alongside other team members, his approach has saved our owners countless hours of work and hundreds of thousands of dollars. With a Masters of Building Construction focused in Real Estate Development and Construction Technology from Auburn University, James is well-equipped to help owners achieve the best ROI possible on their projects.

Positioning New Schools for Future Growth

Posted on August 11, 2017

“As a superintendent of a school district, I have been involved with three major building initiatives, and there’s only so much debt we can assume. Plus, all schools usually have greater wants than they do resources to back it up. Having HPM to analyze our budgets and prioritize our projects has allowed me to run the school district knowing I have the right information at the right time to make timely decisions.”

— Dr. Scott Coefield, Superintendent of Pelham City Schools District

As a new school district, Pelham City Schools maintained a limited number of staff to oversee capital improvement and renovation projects for a comprehensive phasing plan. HPM provided the guidance and leadership with skills and expertise ranging from planning, preconstruction, estimating, project management, scheduling, field observation, quality control and contract negotiations from a team of 12 HPM experts that equaled approximately two full-time employees in cost to the client.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzm9xRqwUTM

6 Ways Program Management Helps Schools

Posted on June 2, 2017

Most school districts don’t maintain design and construction experts on their staffs. But when a capital bond program becomes available for growth and renovation, school administrators and board members must arm themselves quickly with a proponent who can seek out efficiency from every dollar allotted and from every hour on the schedule for each building or improvement project.

For most school districts (and for municipalities who assist schools with funding resources and land acquisition), large building programs tend to be seen as legacy projects with myriad details and multiple stakeholders. HPM stands ready to provide immediate value and leadership in this entire process for school district administrators, school board members, stakeholders and the community. As experienced capital bond program advisors and managers, we completely understand the stress of a major capital building and improvements program for a municipality and school system, and we’re here to make the process easier and more effective.

After all, we assume administering capital bond programs isn’t your day job. You’re in the business of educating children.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPKBjqpHfYE&feature=youtu.be

1 — HPM balances the city’s resources and needs with the school system’s needs. HPM serves as a conduit and common ground between the city’s various entities and the school system providing an objective business case for each scenario and real-time decision making for confident reporting and accountability. We realize you need streamlined governance over these projects.

2 — HPM figures in the school district’s goals with totality of the capital bond program. HPM looks at land-use planning, facility assessments, demographic studies and more for school improvements to provide guidance in correct phasing as to not overburden the budget and to allocate funds appropriately.

3 — HPM helps with community buy-in through consistent and careful communication. Our program management experience supports your efforts with an independent, third-party advisor during work sessions or community engagement events. Plus, we can suggest or prepare a variety of public relations tools to get ahead of messaging while increasing buy-in and minimizing dissension.

4 — HPM performs due diligence on all capital bond spending and selling options. Schools need an overall plan armed with information and options from various perspectives – including population studies, growth and enrollment projections, current property options for use or selling, efficiency assessments, design and construction phasing benefits, communications plans and scheduling timelines.

5 — HPM provides estimating, scheduling and phasing choices and advice. HPM holds accurate bid information since we bid out projects in various stages and to a variety of vendors throughout the area. We maintain a vast database of cost information and project-related experience from cities and school systems throughout the state. We don’t get surprised on bid day.

6 — HPM assembles a flexible and affordable team of professionals who lead at every level. From executive support for strategic planning to detail-oriented project managers, HPM’s bench strength is unmatched. At the right time, we usher in accountants and field coordinators to be your eyes and ears on the budget and on the site.

Yet, we consistently deliver savings equal to or in excess of our cost
to clients due to our efficiencies and effectiveness.

5 Tips for a Successful Trip to the 2017 International Airshow

Posted on June 1, 2017

The International Paris Air Show is a great opportunity to see the latest technological innovations in the aerospace industry and interact with industry professionals and economic and business delegations from around the world. Here are five tips for making your trip to the show enjoyable and successful.

The first four days of the show — Monday, June 19, through Thursday, June 22 — are open to trade visitors only. Be prepared to show your business card at the entrance in addition to your air show credentials.
This year’s show will feature more than 2,300 exhibitors spread across 12 halls, so comfort is key. Travel light, and wear or bring comfortable shoes.
A wide range of restaurants and catering venues — as well as official souvenir shops — can be found all around the venue. Most of them accept credit cards, but if you find yourself in need of euros, an ATM is available on the central aisle of the show.
Plan for at least an hour commute to the exhibition center from Paris, and prepare for the possibility of long security lines at the entrance. The trade show floor is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Use the Paris Air Show mobile app to find exhibitor information and event schedules, locate on-site services and organize your itinerary. The app is available for free download from the Apple and Google Play stores.

If you’d like to meet with an HPM team representative while at the International Paris Air Show, call or email Mike, Jay or Andi directly, or visit booth C98 in Hall 3 of the USA Pavilion.

Mike Lanier
President
205.266.2993
lanier@hpmleadership.com

Jay Daily
VP Business Development
205.937.6433
jdaily@hpmleadership.com

Andi Sims
Director of Marketing
205.213.7955
asims@hpmleadership.com

Category: K12

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